News in brief

European Voice

2/18/09, 5:00 PM CET

Updated 4/12/14, 5:22 PM CET

Incandescent lightbulbs

A bid by rebel MEPs to block an EU ban on inefficient old-style light-bulbs failed when the European Parliament’s environment committee voted on Tuesday (17 February) to support a European Commission proposal to phase out incandescent lightbulbs by 2012. Under EU rules, the Parliament has until mid-March to oppose the Commission’s plan. MEPs also voted to extend EU eco-design standards to more products. The plan will be voted on by the full Parliament at its April session.

Lisbon treaty

The lower house of the Czech parliament voted on Wednesday (18 February) to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon. The decision leaves the treaty’s fate in the hands of the upper house and of President Vacláv Klaus, the leading Czech critic of the treaty, who will be visiting the European Parliament today (19 February).

Access to documents

The Parliament’s civil liberties committee voted on Tuesday in favour of giving the public better access to documents held by the EU institutions, though many member states, including Germany, are strongly opposed to the idea. MEPs also called for the publication of legal opinions of the EU institutions, but the Commission argues that these should remain confidential. The full Parliament will vote on the report at its plenary session on 9-12 March.

Maritime pollution

Cases of serious maritime pollution should be made a criminal offence, as should repeated or deliberate cases of minor sea pollution, the European Parliament’s transport committee declared on Tuesday, broadly supporting a Commission proposal. MEPs also voted that penalties should apply to anyone involved in a pollution case from ship-owners to classification societies. The full Parliament will vote on the dossier at its March plenary session.

Illegal timber

The Parliament’s environment committee voted on Tuesday in favour of imposing penalties on EU companies that trade in illegally sourced timber. The vote, on a report by Caroline Lucas, a UK Green MEP, strengthens the Commission’s proposal, which says that timber-traders should be under an “obligation” to seek “sufficient guarantees” that their timber is legally-sourced. The plans will be voted on by the full Parliament at its April plenary session.